DUBAI 22 November 2019: Government of India has liberalized the medical visa policy and has exempted foreigners from getting their primary visa converted into medical visa for obtaining indoor treatment up to 180 days for seeking admission in a hospital owing to illness.
The salient features of the liberalized medical visa policy are as under:
(i) A foreigner suffering from a minor medical condition which needs only OPD consultation/ treatment may take treatment at any hospital/ treatment centre on his/her primary visa.
(ii) In case of illness which requires indoor medical treatment of less than 180 days or the stay stipulation period, if any, stipulated on his/her primary visa or the duration of his/ her primary visa, whichever is earlier, a foreigner (other than a Pakistani national) is permitted to take such indoor medical treatment subject to the following conditions:
(a) Such indoor medical treatment shall be taken by the foreigner in a Government/ ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)/ NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers)/ MCI (Medical Council of India)/ CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) recognized hospital/ treatment centre.
(b) The hospital/ treatment centre authorities concerned shall furnish the details of the foreigner in a prescribed format along with the details of the indoor medical treatment to be taken by the foreigner, duly certified by the treating doctor to the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) concerned within 24 hours after the admission of the foreigner in the hospital/ treatment centre for such indoor medical treatment. A copy of the confirmation received about submission of the details to FRRO concerned may be given by the hospital authorities to the foreigner for his/ her record.
(c) The indoor medical treatment may also cover treatment for diseases, if any, which the foreigner may have been suffering even before his/ her entry into India but which has come to the notice of the treating doctor during the medical diagnosis necessitating indoor medical treatment in the hospital/ treatment centre.
(d) Treatment of diseases which require organ transplant shall however be permitted only on a Medical Visa.